Poison Rose of Avalon

Caspian went back to his favourite room after a crucial discussion with his grandfather. His mind was stuck in a complex web of his desires and the commitments he had to fulfil.

Pushing the door open, he took a moment to take in the whole of that room. Just a few minutes ago, the place felt lively with Liora's presence, and now, it was the same- beautiful but cold.

Sighing, he closed the door behind him and went to sit on the same spot on the bed where Liora sat. Rooting his elbows on his knees, he dropped his head in both of his hands, spending hours in silent contemplation while staring at dolls.

Meanwhile, Robert, wanting to discuss something important, stood before the chairman.

Robert has been beside Chairman since college and has devoted his life to George ever since he had generously paid for his mother's cancer treatment during a time of financial struggle.

This act of kindness had forged an unbreakable bond between them, leading Robert to remain by George's side without hesitation and through thick and thin.

"Go ahead, Robert. Ask what you want to ask." George was feeling a bit exhausted after his deep discussion with his grandson.

"Why, out of all these years, did you choose to reveal her existence to Caspian? You could have waited until his return."

George couldn't help but laugh at Robert's question.

"In a game of poker, one must know when to reveal their cards," He explained calmly. "Timing is everything, Robert. The stakes are high, and sometimes, a strategic move must be made to gain the upper hand."

"Sir, would you be kind and explain to me in a normal human understanding." Robert couldn't understand the game his employer was playing.

"Sure thing, Robert!" George replied with a chuckle, getting up from his chair.

He walked to stand near the large window to his left, which overlooked the green garden around the villa. A team of gardeners was busy with their daily task of accentuating the beauty of the landscape.

Slipping his hands inside his pants pocket, George began, "Think of it like this: I revealed that information to Caspian to motivate him. Caspian has the intelligence and skill to achieve what others might struggle at his age." His expression softened as a small smile played on his lips.

"Mark my word, Robert. Caspian will return sooner than expected, and he'll bring back the results I'm counting on." George's belief in both his strategy and Caspian's capabilities was worth noticing.

Now understanding what George was trying to do, Robert smiled. "I am sure too, Sir."

This whole conversation took George into the alleys of the past, the places he liked to visit whenever he felt so. He recalled the time when he met Amara when she was the same age as Liora. Amara's mother, Suzi San, was his lover and a renowned pole dancer at one of his high-end bars.

Her beauty was legendary among high society, and wealthy men would spend millions to watch Suzi San's graceful movements as she wrapped herself around the pole like a snake.

Amara inherited her mother's beauty, as did her daughter Liora.

George cherished Suzi as much as he did his wife. After Suzi's untimely death, he freed Amara from all illegal activities as a gift to his late lover's daughter. But he kept a watch over her.

When Liora was born, he visited Amara to congratulate her and noticed Liora's striking resemblance to her grandmother, Suzi.

Every year, he sent Liora a doll on her birthday. On her fourth birthday, George decided to order a special doll with Liora's face and features.

When the doll arrived at the mansion on 1st September, Caspian, who was five years old at the time, opened the package and was immediately captivated by the doll. He liked it so much that he hid it in his room.

After inquiring about the missing doll, the chairman went to Caspian's room and asked him about it.

However, Caspian was adamant about keeping the doll for himself. Instead of crying or throwing a tantrum like other children, he proposed a deal to his grandfather. He offered to give away all his other toys as a present but insisted on keeping this particular doll.

George burst into laughter at how Caspian was acting similarly to him, just like he struck a deal with his wife for Suzi. He saw a reflection of himself in Caspian and decided to let him keep the doll.

Each year, Caspian ordered an older version of the same doll. His obsession with that doll led him to create a room which was off-limits to everyone else. As Caspian matured, his cunning and manipulative tendencies became more apparent.

George needed to keep his grandson in check, just like every horse should have a rein. Like that, he planned to leverage Liora's presence to maintain authority over Caspian for as long as possible.

Liora unwittingly became a wild card in the poker game. George had a perfect plan to use that wild card to pull Caspian's reigns whenever he needed to.

Caspian, on the other hand, gently took the doll, which Liora held in the morning and turned it around. As he brushed aside the hair, "Liora" was written on the back of the doll's neck.

He gathered the remaining dolls, leaving out the one with Liora's fragrance, and placed others in a bag. He walked towards the fiery pit that had been prepared at his command behind the mansion. There, with only the fire as his companion, he bid a tender farewell to each doll, kissing them on the forehead before consigning them to the merciless flames.

"Goodbye Lioras. We had a great time together. Now it's time for farewell."

He left one doll for Liora to play with while watching the others burn to ashes.

Why would he need the dolls anyway, now that the living and breathing Liora has stepped into his life?

As the dolls burned, he looked excited. A mysterious smile crept over Caspian's face. It wasn't the burning dolls that brought satisfaction but the anticipation of meeting Liora again the next day.

**************

Liora's sleep was interrupted by the grinding noise of a heavy machine running outside. Her eyes flickered open slowly, and when she fully woke up, she was shocked to find herself in an unfamiliar room. This wasn't part of her home, and the white sleeping gown which fit her very well was also not hers.

'Did mama buy this?'

She looked around frantically until she saw her mother lying next to her. She began to breathe normally again. With her mother there, everything felt safe, and there was nothing to worry about. She smiled and craned her neck to kiss her mom on the cheek.

"I love you mumma!" She whispered while rubbing her mother's face affectionately.

She hadn't seen her mother sleep so peacefully in the past few days. She didn't want to disturb her sleep, so she carefully scooted away.

With delicate steps, she climbed down from the bed, careful not to disturb her mother's sleep. Curiosity gnawed at her as she wondered where they were. She slowly opened the door and peeked outside, spotting a living room.

Closing the door behind her, Liora tiptoed towards the living room. She scanned the room, taking in the unfamiliar furniture and the faint hum of an old refrigerator in the adjacent kitchen, and found Officer Park sleeping on the sofa.

Liora quietly sat on a small chair nearby. A soft snore from Officer Park drew her attention.

Officer Park, lying on the sofa, was jolted awake by the sudden, staticky hum of the TV turning on by itself. The screen flickered with a snowstorm of black-and-white dots, producing a loud, unsettling sound of an unturned channel. Just as he was about to sit up, a piercing scream erupted from the TV, echoing through the room.

He saw a figure sitting on the chair nearby. He screamed in shock, his voice mixing with the lingering scream from the TV. Liora, equally startled by his reaction, screamed as well. The chaotic chorus of their screams filled the small living room, reverberating off the walls.

The noise jolted Amara awake. She stumbled out of the bedroom, her heart pounding with fear and adrenaline.'Did something happen to Liora?' She gasped, rushing towards the living room without a single breath to spare. She found Officer Park and Liora facing each other, both looking terrified and still screaming.

"Stop! Both of you, stop!" Amara shouted over the din."What's going on?" she demanded.

"Th...The TV turned on by itself, and then that scream.." Dane stammered, running a hand through his dishevelled hair. "I saw Liora, and I was startled. I thought it was Annabelle sitting and watching me."

"Officer Park, how can you...?" Amara paused, looking at Liora.

Liora, still shaken, nodded. "I was just sitting here, trying to understand what's happening. Then the TV scared me, and then Officer Park scared me even more.

"Amara took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She knelt beside Liora, holding her daughter's hands.

"It's okay, honey. We're all just a bit on edge. Now, please get up from the TV remote you are sitting on."

Officer Park rubbed his face, trying to wake himself up fully. "I'm sorry, Liora! I didn't mean to scare you." He apologised after realising his mistake.

"It's okay. I understand. But where are we?" asked Liora.

"It is where I live. We had to leave the house yesterday night. And I thought this would be the safest place for you and your mother." He explained.

After an eventful morning, the day seemed to pass in a blur. The previous night had not entirely dissipated, but Amara and Officer Park managed to find some semblance of normalcy over Breakfast. They talked about mundane things, trying to keep their minds off the unnerving events.

Once the breakfast was over, Dane drove them to the Luxor estate.

As they approached the imposing gates of the Luxor Estate, Officer Park turned to Amara, who was sitting beside Liora.

"I am not allowed to go inside." He pointed.

"I know. Thank you for everything, Officer Park!" Said Amara.

Taking Liora's hand, she stepped out of the car, and a tall, broad-shouldered man in a crisp security uniform approached them.

Officer Park eyed him carefully before smiling at Amara and Liora. Rolling down the window, he said, "Stay safe. I'll be in touch. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call." He reversed the car before speeding away.

The tall man watched the car but didn't comment on that. Instead, he turned his attention to little Liora. "I am sorry for yesterday, little lady. I'm John, chief of security. Welcome to the Luxor Estate. Let me help you with your bags."

Liora was intimidated by his large size, but his warm and welcoming smile calmed her nerves. She reciprocated his smile and handed him her bag.

"Thank you, big foot!" John laughed.

After what has been a brutal past few months, any small help from anyone made Liora happy.

As John led them towards the mansion, he made light conversation with Liora, pointing out various features of the estate. "This place has a long history." He informed, gesturing to the ornate statues and well-manicured gardens.

"It's beautiful," said Liora, looking at the statues and manicured gardens. But not as beautiful as that room,′ she thought, eagerly waiting to revisit it.

As they approached the grand entrance of the mansion, a tall, impeccably dressed man awaited them. Roman, a servant of the Glacier family, worked at the Luxor Estate for years.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Valentine, Ms. Liora," he greeted with a polite nod as soon as they neared him. "I will take your luggage from here."

"Mrs.Valentine, Roman." Amara corrected him.

"My mistake, Mrs.Valentine."

Roman began to lead Amara and Liora through the beautiful green grass carpet of the Glaciers' estate. As they walked, Liora noticed a large fire pit first.

They soon arrived at the guest cottage, a well-maintained house with brown ceilings and white walls. The light blue window frames also supported climbers with small violet-coloured flowers, adding to the house's beauty. Liora couldn't help but compare it with the cosy cute houses she had seen in Disney movies. That sight excited her.

Roman handed the key to Amara. "This will be your residence during your stay," he said, stepping aside to allow them entry. "I will be taking leave now." He then informed.

Amara turned to take a detailed glance at the house. The guest house was spacious, with three bedrooms, a living room, and a well-equipped spacious kitchen. The decor was homely, with large windows letting in plenty of natural light.

Amara felt at ease with the amenities provided by the Chairman. Liora could live a comfortable life here, she thought.

Liora's favourite part was the large window in her room, which offered a stunning view of the estate's gardens. "I could get used to this," she said.

After completing a tour of their new home, they settled in the living room.

"Let's take a moment to rest, and then we can unpack," Amara suggested. Liora agreed, curling up beside her mother.

Amara held Liora tightly in her arms, her heart aching with guilt and love. "Are you okay, Ora? You didn't get a chance to say goodbye to the house. I'm so sorry," her voice was thick with emotion.

"It's okay, Mama. You did right," she replied softly. She closed her eyes and nestled closer, seeking comfort in her mother's embrace. "I would have cried a lot. So you did right, Mama."

Amara stroked Liora's hair gently, "I am glad my daughter is so strong. I am very proud of you, my baby!"

Liora continued, her voice a little stronger now. "Wherever we go, Papa will be watching us from the sky, right Mama?"

Amara felt her throat clogging up with emotions. The corners of her eyes moistened at the memory of her late husband. She hugged Liora even tighter. "Yes, he will," she murmured, her heart swelling with a bittersweet comfort.

The memory of Liora's father was a constant presence, both a source of strength and a reminder of their loss.

Unbeknownst to the daughter and mother, Caspian had been listening quietly near the door.

'I do not know about your father,' a smirk played on Caspian's lips.

′But I will be watching you.′"Ora!!" Caspian knocked lightly before entering the house.